Ticonderoga Federal Credit Union to Hold 2nd Annual Shred Fest - Protect Your Identity

Sept. 26, 2011 - PRLog -- TICONDEROGA, NY - As part of their annual Credit Union Week celebration, the Ticonderoga Federal Credit Union (TFCU) will hold their 2nd annual Shred Fest, Monday October 17th and Tuesday October 18th.  The free paper-shredding event aims to increase public awareness of identity theft prevention.  Community members are invited to bring their confidential documents to be shredded at their local TFCU office during event hours.

Documents will be shredded on site in a mobile shredding truck.  The first ten participants at each location will receive a free TFCU umbrella.  Paper, folders, envelopes, paper bound by staples, paperclips and spiral binding can be shredded, however, documents bound with metal binder clips cannot.  

In exchange for the free service, TFCU asks participants to please bring a non-perishable food item for donation to the local food pantries.  All of the shredded paper will be recycled and the proceeds from the recycling will be donated to food pantries in Ticonderoga, Moriah and Elizabethtown.

“Identity theft can destroy your credit and your good name,” said Shawn Hayes, TFCU President and CEO. “But through a few simple precautions, members can stand up to identity thieves and avoid becoming a victim.”

In 2008, the state of New York reported more than 22,000 identity theft complaints.  Shredding documents containing personal identifying information before throwing them away is one of the most important ways consumers can prevent identity theft.

Free shredding will be offered at the following TFCU locations during event hours:

TICONDEROGA OFFICE (1178 NYS Route 9N):
Monday, October 17th Hours: 10:00AM – 1:00PM

PORT HENRY BRANCH (43 Meacham Street):
Tuesday, October 18th Hours: 9:00 - 11:00AM

ELIZABETHTOWN BRANCH (7519 Court Street):
Tuesday, October 18th Hours: 11:30AM - 1:30PM



IT’S YOUR IDENTITY…PROTECT IT! FOLLOW THESE TIPS:

•   Shred first, trash last. Never throw out documents with sensitive information until you’ve shredded them. This includes prescreened credit card offers, receipts, canceled checks, credit union statements, expired credit cards, doctors’ bills, prescription bottles and insurance documents.  Anything with an account number can be used in identity theft.

•   Be careful when you receive suspicious telephone and e-mail offers. Never give personal information over the phone and never click on unfamiliar e-mail links.

•   Check your financial statements regularly to make sure there is no unexplained activity.   Notify the financial institution immediately if you discover any erroneous or suspicious transactions on your statements.

•   Register for E-Statements to prevent a paper trail for thieves to follow.  Identity thieves will often change the address of a bill so that it will take you longer to figure out the scam.  An unlocked mailbox provides easy access to your personal information.  

•   Safeguard your computer by routinely updating your anti-virus and firewall software.

•   Check your credit report for unusual activity. Request your free annual credit report online at www.annualcreditreport.com or call 1-877-322-8228.

•   Opt out of mail solicitations. Register your address at www.optoutprescreen.com or call toll-free 1-888-567-8688.

ALREADY AN IDENTITY THEFT VICTIM?  TAKE ACTION QUICKLY:

Report it. Report identity theft to your local police department and file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at www.ftc.gov or call the FTC’s Identity Theft Hotline toll-free at (877) ID-THEFT (438-4338).  Keep copies of the report and the complaint.

Established in 1954, Ticonderoga Federal Credit Union has been serving the financial needs of its members for 57 years.  It currently operates through conveniently located offices at 1178 NYS Route 9N in Ticonderoga, NY, 43 Meacham Street in Port Henry, NY, 7519 Court Street in Elizabethtown, NY and can be found online at http://www.tfcunow.com

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If you’d like more information about this topic, or to schedule an interview, please call Kate Shoemaker at 518-585-6725 or email; kthompson@tfcunow.com